Eight dead after gunmen open fire during funeral at Jordanian church

Eight people were killed and 40 others wounded when gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate on Friday. The attack occurred in broad daylight during a funeral service, with the shooting lasting several minutes before the gunfire subsided. King Abdullah instructed security forces to respond firmly and locate those responsible for the incident, according to the royal court.

The church is located roughly 120 kilometers southwest of the capital, Amman. Jordanian officials labeled the incident an act of extremist terrorism. No group has claimed responsibility to date. Authorities stated that it was too early to determine if the attackers had connections to known organizations inside or outside the country. Jordan declared three days of national mourning following the shooting.

Security measures have increased across the nation in response to the violence. The US embassy in Amman reported heightened guard posts at shopping malls, foreign embassies, and other sites. Police were seen patrolling outside the church on Saturday as the search for the perpetrators continued. King Abdullah traveled to Karak within hours of the shooting to oversee the response.

The King vowed that the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan posted on X that the attack resulted from a terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He added that society would not be allowed to go down this path. The prime minister emphasized the need to counter the mindset behind the violence.

Survivors described a chaotic scene inside the church. Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived, told Reuters that an attacker stood about two meters away and aimed a handgun at him. Al-Burqan later received a call from his son, who was also present, informing him that the boy had been shot in the leg and was receiving hospital treatment. After the shooting stopped, Al-Burqan looked out a window and saw two assailants, one masked and one unmasked, carrying a handgun.

Victims and local leaders expressed grief over the toll of the attack. Tarek Ammarin, whose relative was injured, described the event as a massacre in every sense of the word. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village in Karak, called the attack wicked. He stated that the country would remain safe, provided God wills it. The Karak region is home to a minority Christian population.

Attacks of this nature are rare in Jordan, though authorities say they have foiled plots by violent groups in recent years. These groups are often driven by a strict interpretation of Islam. The country contains several biblical sites that attract Christian pilgrims from around the world. The US alliance with Jordan includes cooperation in the fight against violent armed groups in the region.